You had one job...

“Remember, O Lord, what has come upon us; Look, and behold our reproach!

Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, And our houses to foreigners.

We have become orphans and waifs, Our mothers are like widows.

We pay for the water we drink, And our wood comes at a price.

They pursue at our heels; We labor and have no rest.

We have given our hand to the Egyptians And the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

Our fathers sinned and are no more, But we bear their iniquities.” (Lam 5:1-7, NKJV)

Reading this passage from Lamentations, you might think my blog today is about the border wall. You might think I’m going to argue against uncontrolled immigration and the impact low-skilled or non-skilled labor is having on the US labor market. You might even stretch to conclude that I’m going to blame the Obama Administration for our current racial divide and Southern Border woes.

You would be wrong.

Christian, like the Israelites of Lamentations, we have abdicated our birthright to the Egyptians in the name of comfort. Only “we” are the Christians in these United States and the “Egyptians” in our case are the entertainers and the politicians and the “I’m offended” crowd who tell us where and how we can worship the one true God. We have conceded what is right for what we can have right now. We are paying for the sins of our fathers and mothers who traded the truths of fire and brimstone for the fuller pews and heavier offering plates that come with the “Prosperity Gospel.” We are paying for the sins of our fathers and mothers who chose to spare the rod and spoil the child.

“The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (Num 14:18, NIV)

Yesterday my pastor gave an impassioned plea to our congregation. His inspired message was clear – we have one job. Jesus wasn’t born of a virgin, raised as a man; He didn’t die on the cross, defeat death, Hell and Satan, and raise Himself up again to sit at the right hand of the Father just so we can entertain people in church with lights and music and soft doctrine of love and acceptance like its Woodstock 1969. No, Jesus took that shame and bore that burden so that the Spirit could come, live among us, and empower us for the one job Jesus gave to everyone.

Make Disciples.

Let’s put this in a way you’ve already heard it, but may have ignored. When your friend is standing on the railroad tracks, and the oncoming train is sounding its whistle, what do you do? He argues that the train isn’t real and if it is, nobody gets hurt but him. Do you say, “I’m safe and he isn’t interested,” or do you push him off the tracks?

Jesus is sounding the horn.

You have one job.

(Photo: Scott Monty)